An all-inclusive fluid flow device that can variably magnify differential pressure, measure, and control a flow of a fluid is described. Various procedures, including measuring, controlling, balancing, or calibration procedures can leverage a variably magnified differential pressure measurement. Differential pressure measurements can be measured across the fluid flow device such that a first pressure measurement is taken upstream of the fluid flow device while a second pressure measurement is taken downstream of the fluid flow device. Moreover, one or more of the various pressure measurements, and in particular the downstream pressure measurement, can be performed at stagnation zone where the flow has stagnated. Such can provide significant magnification and/or turndown capabilities and the magnification can vary based on a damper position and/or apertures dimensions.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
2. The fluid flow device of claim 1, wherein the at least two sensors communicate with a transducer that converts a pressure differential measure into an electrical signal.
3. The fluid flow device of claim 2, further comprising an actuator configured to provide locomotion to the flow control means.
4. The fluid flow device of claim 3, further comprising a position indicator device that determines the position of the flow control means.
5. The fluid flow device of claim 4, wherein the fluid flow device is communicatively coupled to a processor that executes a procedure that indicates a target position of the flow control means determined to satisfy an objective of the procedure.
6. The fluid flow device of claim 5, wherein the procedure is based on calibration data that is derived from at least one of: a flow stand procedure, a wind tunnel procedure, a combination thereof, software or simulations associated with the flow stand procedure or the wind tunnel procedure, an in situ measurement performed by the fluid flow device, environmental factors, occupancy factors, or system factors.
7. The fluid flow device of claim 6, wherein the procedure is a recalibration procedure that updates the calibration data based on a second in situ measurement performed by the fluid flow device, environmental factors, occupancy factors, or system factors.
8. The fluid flow device of claim 5, wherein the procedure is a fault diagnostic procedure that identifies an issue with at least one of the fluid flow device or the calibration data.
9. The fluid flow device of claim 5, wherein the procedure is a balancing procedure that balances a supply of the fluid with a demand for the fluid.
10. The fluid flow device of claim 5, wherein the procedure is a control procedure and the objective of the procedure is to satisfy a set point.
11. The fluid flow device of claim 5, wherein the fluid flowing through the variable aperture is (i) received by an air fixture device that discharges the fluid into a zone or (ii) is received from the air fixture device that intakes the fluid from the zone.
12. The fluid flow device of claim 11, wherein the air fixture device is communicatively coupled to the processor executing the procedure.
13. The fluid flow device of claim 11, wherein the air fixture device comprises a second transducer, a second variable aperture that is controlled by a second flow control means, a second position indicator that indicates a position of the second flow control means, and a second actuator that controls the position of the second flow control means.
14. The fluid flow device of claim 11, wherein the procedure is an update procedure that compares a pressure measurement by the air fixture device to a reference pressure measurement by the fluid flow device and, based on results, calibrates the air fixture device.
15. The fluid flow device of claim 14, wherein the update procedure further comprises updating a state of the air fixture device based on at least one of an environmental factor, an occupancy factor, or a system factor.
16. The fluid flow device of claim 11, wherein the procedure is comfort procedure that discharges a downstream flow of the fluid into the zone at a target velocity that is determined as a function whether the zone is being heated or cooled, while concurrently controlling a volume of the downstream flow to satisfy a set point.
17. The fluid flow device of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow device is situated in an air fixture device that discharges fluid into a zone or intakes fluid from the zone.
18. The fluid flow device of claim 1, wherein the magnified differential pressure is determined as a function of vena contractae formed on edges of the variable aperture in response to the fluid flowing through the variable aperture.
19. The fluid flow device of claim 1, wherein the magnified differential pressure represents a magnification of the differential pressure by a variable magnification factor that varies according to the dimensions of the variable aperture.
21. The fluid flow device of claim 20, wherein a sensor of the at least two sensors communicates with a transducer.
22. The fluid flow device of claim 21, further comprising an actuator configured to provide variability to the flow control means.
23. The fluid flow device of claim 22, further comprising a position indicator device that determines the position of the flow control means.
24. The fluid flow device of claim 23, wherein the fluid flow device is communicatively coupled to a processor that executes a procedure that indicates a target position of the flow control means determined to satisfy an objective of the procedure.
26. The fluid flow controller of claim 25, wherein the operations further comprise receiving, from the fluid flow device, position feedback data that is indicative of the state of the variable aperture.
27. The fluid flow controller of claim 26, wherein controlling procedure is further based on the position feedback data.
28. The fluid flow controller of claim 25, wherein the operations further comprise receiving calibration data that is indicative of a flow profile of the fluid flow device that is derived from at least one of: a flow stand procedure, a wind tunnel procedure, a combination thereof, software or simulations associated thereto, an in situ measurement performed by the fluid flow device, environmental factors, occupancy factors, or system factors.
29. The fluid flow controller of claim 28, wherein controlling procedure is further based on the calibration data.
30. The fluid flow controller of claim 25, wherein the magnification procedure determines the magnified differential pressure as a function of a variable vena contracta that forms downstream of the fluid flow device.
31. The fluid flow controller of claim 30, wherein the vena contracta comprises multiple variable vena contractae that form on edges of the variable aperture.
32. The fluid flow controller of claim 25, wherein the magnified differential pressure results from a difference between measurements provided by a first pressure sensor situated upstream of the aperture and a second pressure sensor that is situated downstream of the aperture.
33. The fluid flow controller of claim 32, wherein the second pressure sensor is situated in a stagnation zone that arises in a wake of the fluid flow device.
34. The fluid flow controller of claim 25, wherein the variable vena contracta that forms downstream of the fluid flow device is in response to the flow of the fluid flowing through the variable aperture.
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March 29, 2023
July 9, 2024
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